A “thick, treacly sediment” has spread through waterways near Aldreth and is posing a serious and potentially long-lasting threat to local wildlife, a conservation group has said.

The Haddenham Conservation Society insists that the sediment is putting “otters, water voles, and kingfishers in danger of having their fur and feathers tarnished and damaged,” amongst other negative environmental repercussions.

The pollution is the result of runoff from rotting sugar beet on a local farm.

The Environment Agency said it was first informed of the issue on the 20th May, 2017 and initially visited the site on the 27th May.

Since then, they have been monitoring the local watercourse and overseeing remedial work that’s being carried out by the owners of the sugar beet.

The Environment Agency said: “The source of the pollution was contained on 27th May, and the bags of sugar beet are due to be removed this week.”